Sensational Discovery Beneath Hole Vicarage

The grave containing the rare inscription was discovered by archaeologists during excavations for the Ringerike Railway, where the route crosses Prestemoen toward Hole Vicarage. Once the grave containing the stone, charcoal, and bones had been dated, it became clear that the carving was the oldest known from the mysterious history of runic inscriptions, and that it had been carved by someone who spoke the ancient Nordic proto-language 2,000 years ago. On the front of the stone, eight runes stand out clearly among other carvings.

see Red Ant, who made the film for the Historical Museum

Transcribed into letters, it may mean »idiberug», which could be a given name or a family name.

Many questions can be asked about the markings on the Svingerud Stone. The hope is that, over time, methods and analyses may be developed that can eventually provide valuable knowledge about the beginnings of a common Nordic written language. In this context, it is an eye-opener for understanding the long historical lines represented by the vicarages, with their locations in the landscape.